WoW Forever Raids: Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia's Lair

By Expos.GG Team · 2026-11-08

Raids open in WoW Forever on December 9, 2026: Barrow Deeps (10 players), Hyjal Summit (20) and Onyxia's Lair (40). Here's what each raid is and how to be ready on day one.

Raids are not available when WoW Forever launches on November 4. They open on December 9, 2026, when level 60 players get three raids at once:

| Raid | Raid size | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | Barrow Deeps | 10 players | New to Forever | | Hyjal Summit | 20 players | New to Forever | | Onyxia's Lair | 40 players | The original raid; every raider needs the Drakefire Amulet |

That gives you five weeks from launch to reach 60, gear up and find a group. Here's how to use them.

The three raids

!A forty-player raid assembling outside a dragon's cave in a swamp

Barrow Deeps (10 players)

Barrow Deeps has eight bosses inside Mount Hyjal, with entrances connected through Hyjal, Winterspring and the Blackmaw Hold dungeon. A 10-player raid is the easiest to organize with a group of friends or a small guild, which makes it many players' first Forever raid. Ten players also means every role matters: one weak healer or tank shows.

Hyjal Summit (20 players)

Hyjal Summit is Forever's new 20-player raid, with 13 bosses at the summit of Mount Hyjal near the World Tree Nordrassil. Twenty players is enough for a real raid team but still manageable for a mid-sized guild.

Onyxia's Lair (40 players)

The classic 40-player raid returns in Dustwallow Marsh. Every member of the raid must carry the Drakefire Amulet to enter; it only needs to be in your inventory, not equipped. The amulet comes from a faction-specific attunement questline through Blackrock Depths and Blackrock Spire. Our Onyxia attunement guide has every step. Finish it before December 9 so you're not stuck at the door on opening night. All three raids are planned to reset weekly.

How to be ready on December 9

!A raid leader briefing a group at a campsite with maps and potions

1. Reach level 60 with time to spare

All three raids need level 60. If you level casually, aim to hit 60 by the end of November. That leaves at least a week for gear and preparation. Our launch week guide has a week-by-week plan.

2. Get pre-raid gear

Before raids open, your best gear comes from the level 55–60 dungeons, quests and crafting:

- Blackmaw Hold and Shaper's Terrace, both new - Stratholme and Scholomance, both original

Make a list of the best item for each slot for your spec and work through it. See the full WoW Forever dungeon list for level ranges.

3. Set up your specs

Dual spec unlocks at level 40 from class trainers for 10 gold. Once raids are close, set one spec for raiding and keep the other for farming or PvP. Each spec has its own respec fee, which drops to 1 gold over time.

4. Stock consumables

Potions, food, elixirs and class reagents add up across a raid night. Professions help here. The new Camping system also gives buffs when you rest at a campsite that other players have built up with Camp Features.

5. Find your group

With rulesets replacing realms, everyone on your ruleset and faction in your region is a potential raid member. Join a guild or a regular group during leveling. The people you run dungeons with in week one are your best raid contacts in week five.

What comes after the first raids

The published roadmap lists two new raids in Spring 2027 and a revamped iconic raid plus a new raid in Summer 2027. Those dates are plans and may change. Gear from the December raids is likely to be the starting point for whatever comes next.

Raid spots from Expos.GG

If you want gear from December 9 without organising a raid group, Expos.GG takes pre-orders for raid spots in all three raids:

- Group loot: a spot in the raid, with loot shared under the group's rules. - Loot priority: priority on drops for your character. - Full priority: the highest loot priority available.

Raid spots are pre-orders, delivered after the raids open on December 9, 2026. No named item or minimum number of drops is guaranteed, because raid loot is random. See prices and options on the WoW Forever raids page.

Raids FAQ

When do WoW Forever raids come out? December 9, 2026.

Which raids are in WoW Forever? Barrow Deeps (10 players), Hyjal Summit (20 players) and Onyxia's Lair (40 players).

What level do I need? Level 60. Onyxia's Lair also needs the Drakefire Amulet in your bags.

Is Molten Core in WoW Forever? Not at launch. The story is set before Molten Core, and Molten Core isn't one of the December 9 raids.